A recent trade proposal involving San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has drawn some attention—and skepticism.
Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated suggested a potential swap between the 49ers and the Washington Commanders, involving Aiyuk and fellow wideout Terry McLaurin. Cohn labeled the deal a "no-brainer," but not everyone agrees. One major issue makes the trade unlikely at this stage—Aiyuk's health.
Aiyuk is still recovering from the ACL and MCL injuries he suffered in Week 7 of the 2024 season. He isn't expected to be at full strength by the start of the 2025 campaign, which complicates any potential trade.
Peter Panacy of Niner Noise addressed the proposed deal in a recent rebuttal column, pointing out the obvious roadblock.
"The proverbial elephant in the room here is Aiyuk's injury, the torn ACL and MCL suffered in Week 7 last year that likely keeps him from taking the field to open up 2025," Panacy wrote. "Recent injury updates have been positive, but the fact the 2020 first-round draftee's knee essentially had to be rebuilt casts some serious doubts about his immediate-impact ability."
Panacy also noted that McLaurin is entering the final year of his contract and has expressed frustration with his contract situation. Meanwhile, some question how content Aiyuk remains in San Francisco after signing a massive extension last year, only to struggle early in the season before going down with the severe injury.
A potential trade would reunite Aiyuk with Deebo Samuel, whom the 49ers sent to Washington in March, and quarterback Jayden Daniels, his close friend and former Arizona State teammate. Daniels is also the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Aiyuk was seemingly intrigued by the idea of playing with him last year amid a contract standoff.
But even if the 49ers were having second thoughts about Aiyuk's contract, the timing is a problem. A trade would have made more financial sense before the team paid out a significant roster bonus on April 1. However, interest likely waned due to his injury.
As for the Commanders, who reached the NFC Championship Game last season, trading for a receiver likely to miss a portion of the season doesn't make a ton of sense.
"In win-now mode, Washington's best interest is to make things work with McLaurin," Panacy added, "who can contribute out of the gate in Week 1 unless contract talks go so far south to a point where a holdout emerges (despite would-be significant fines)."